Kitchen spoon tongs



- J y 1951 s. B. N. IGOE 2,561,374

KITCHEN SPOON TONGS Filed May 11, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

szmzyaxv. 13 09 AT TOR/VEYS Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED STATES IATENTOFFICE KITCHEN SPOON TONGS Stanley B. N. Igoe, San Juan, Puerto RicoApplication May 11, 1948, Serial No. 26,421

2 Claims.

I My invention relates to lifting tongs for use in kitchens and thelike.

An important object of the invention is to provicle tongs in the form ofreadily-detachable spoons, constructed in such a manner that the spoonsmay be used individually, as spoons, when desired.

A further object is to provide a novel way to detachably connect thehandles of a pair of spoons, so that they may serve as tongs, and sothat one spoon handle may serve as a bottle opener.

A still further object is to provide a device of the above mentionedclass which is simple, and quite inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of assembled tongs embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a spoon forming one side of the tongs,removed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a spoon forming the opposite side of thetongs, removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the assembled tongs ofFigure 1, the view being taken at right angles to the view in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, showing the method ofassembling and disassembling the tongs.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a spoon embodying a slightmodification of the invention, and,

Figure 7 is a similar view of a further slight modification of theinvention.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of i1- lustration are shownpreferred embodiments of the invention, attention is directed first toFigures 1 to 5, inclusive, wherein the numeral III designates aconventional kitchen mixing spoon or tong member, having the usual longstraight handle II. Near its lower end, the handle II is provided with acentral elongated opening or slot I2, as shown. The opening I2 issubstantially wider at its lower end than at its top, and forms upwardlyconverging edges l3. The lower end I4 of opening I2 is preferablyrounded, as shown.

The numeral I5 designates an identical Spoon or tong member, having ahandle It. Near its lower end, the handle I6 is provided in one sidewith a curved notch I'I, forming a rounded lower end I8, terminating inan upwardly projecting point I9. The notch I! further forms an inclinededge portion 20 which extends towards the transverse center of spoonhandle I6, providing a narrow handle portion 26.

When the spoons II] and I5 are separated, as shown in Figures 2 and 3,they may be used like any conventional spoons. The spoon I5 may serve asa convenient bottle opener, through the use of the notch I! in the usualmanner.

The spoons I9 and I5 may be readily detachably connected and crossed toform convenient lifting tongs 2!, Figure 1. To connect and cross thespoons It and I5, the handle Iii is merely inserted through the openingI2, which opening is slightly longer than the width of the handle I5. Toaccomplish this, the handles II and II: are first arranged atsubstantially right angles, Figure 5. The handle it passes throughopening I2, until the notch I'I enters the opening, to co-act with theopening to form a pivotal or hinged connection between the spoons,Figures 1 and 4. The notch bottom I8 and inclined edge 26 engages therounded end [4 and one edge l3, Figure 4, and permits a natural pivotalaction between the spoons. The converging edges I3 and the edge 20prevent appreciable relative longitudinal movement of the pivotallyconnected spoons. The shapes of notch I1 and opening I2, as describedare important, and afford a novel and practical way to detachably hingethe spoons l0 and I5 together to form the kitchen tongs 2|. The roundbottom end I4 makes it easy to swing the assembled spoon I5 to itsposition in Figure 5, for separating the spoons again. The tongs 2! maybe used for a variety of purposes in the kitchen, as is well-known.

In Figure 6, I have shown a slightly modified spoon 22, provided at itsend with prongs or teeth 23. This type of spoon is desirable for pickingup certain types of food, such as salad. A pair of the spoons 22 areotherwise identical to the spoons I0 and I5, and are used in exactly thesame manner.

In Figure '7, a spoon 24 is shown provided with drain slots 25. A pairof the spoons 24 are otherwise identical to spoons I0 and. I5, and servethe same purposes. The slots 25 facilitate picking up boiled eggs, andthe like, by permitting the liquid to drain off.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without longitudinally of and spaced from the ends andsides of said handle, and a second tong member including a handle and aspoon arranged adjacent one end of said handle and secured thereto, thehandle of said second tong member having a notch extending inwardly ofone side intermediate the ends thereof, the handle of said second tongmember being insertable through said slot in the handle of said firsttong memher with the portion adjacent said notch of the handle of saidsecond tong member being freely.

rotatable in said slot to an extent such that the spoon of said secondtong member faces the spoon of said first tong member, the notch of saidsecond tong member being in engagement with the adjacent edge of saidslot of said first tong member when the portion adjacent the notch ofsaid second tong member has been rotated to an extent such that thespoon of said second tong member faces the spoon of said first tongmember.

2. Kitchen tongs comprising a first tong member including a handle and aspoon arranged adjacent one end of said handle and secured thereto, thehandle of said first tong member being provided with a closed slotextending longitudinally of and spaced from the ends and sides of saidhandle, and a second tong member including a handle and a spoon arrangedadjacent one end of said handle and secured thereto,

4 the handle of said second tong member having a notch extendinginwardly of one side intermediate the ends thereof, said slot in thehandle of said first tong member being of a length greater than thewidth of the handle of said second tong member and having its side edgesconverging toward one end of said slot, the handle of said second tongmember being insertable through said slot in the handle of said firsttong member with the portion adjacent said notch of the handle of saidsecond tong member being freely rotatable in said slot to an extent suchthat the spoon of said second tong member faces the spoon of said firsttong member, the notch of said second tong member embracingly receivingthe adjacent edge of said slot of said first tong member when theportion adjacent the notch of said second tong member has been rotatedto an extent such that the spoon of said second tong member faces thespoon of said first tong member.

STANLEY B. N. IGOE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 19,419 Haines Feb. 23, 18581,522,067 McBride Jan. 6, 1925 1,643,456 James Sept; 27, 1927 2,010,074Fuerst Aug.'6, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 210,603 GermanyJune 8, 1909

